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Wednesday, March 10, 2021

At least 3.8 million fish killed by Texas winter snowstorm, officials say - mySA

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The Texas winter snowstorm killed at least 3.8 million fish.

According to the Texas and Wildlife Department, the massive fish kill consisted of at least 61 species. Non-recreational species contributed to 91 percent of the total mortality in numbers of fish. This includes like Silver Perch, Hardhead Catfish, Pinfish, Bay Anchovy and Striped Mullet.

Fish kills also known as fish die-off, refers to localized batches of fish that wash up dead along riverbanks and bays. Extreme weather (hot or cold) is one of the common natural causes of "fish kills."

READ ALSO: Fish are turning up dead due to freezing Texas temperatures

After the freezing temperatures, both the Upper and Lower Laguna Madre bay systems were hit particularly hard, TPWD stated in a news release Wednesday. The Lower Laguna Madre had the highest mortality of Spotted Seatrout with an estimated 104,000 fish killed.

The Upper Laguna Madre had experienced Black Drum mortality at an estimated 82,600 fish, the release added.

TPWD said this is not the first freeze to occur in Texas coastal waters. Multiple freeze events during the 1980s killed almost 32 million fish, with the most severe impacts being on the lower coast.

"Using history as a guide, we believe our fishery has the potential to bounce back fairly quickly as it did after the 1980s freeze event," Robin Riechers, Coastal Fisheries Division Director, said. "Based on our long-term monitoring, we saw the recovery in terms of numbers of Spotted Seatrout bounce back in approximately two to three years. This does not mean the fish size and age structure were the same as pre-freeze but the overall numbers did return in that timeframe."

As fish stocks recover from the freeze, the department is encouraging anglers to practice conservation by choosing to catch and release fish.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre

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March 11, 2021 at 04:02AM
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At least 3.8 million fish killed by Texas winter snowstorm, officials say - mySA

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